Device for moistening adhesive surfaces.



No. 721,112. PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903.

W. J. WEAVER & 0. F. HOFFMAN. DEVICE FOR MOISTENING. ADHESIVE SURFACES.

APPLICATION IILED SEPT. 10. 1902. A

no MODEL,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. WEAVER AND CASPER F. HOFFMAN, 0F REYNOLDSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR MOISTENING ADHESIVE SURFACES.

' SPECIFICATION forming part Of letters Patent NO. 721,1 12, dated February 17, 1903.

Application filed September 10. 1902. Serial No. 122,857. (No model.)

To wZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,'-'WILLIAM J. WEAVER and CASPER F. HOFFMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Reynoldsville, in the county of Jefierson and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Device for Moistening Adhesive Surfaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for moistening gummed surfaces-as, for instance, stamps, the sealing-flaps of envelops, &c.- and has for its object to provide improved means for containing water in such a manner as to reduce evaporation to a minimum and at the same time to give convenient access to the water when required for use. It is furthermore designed to prevent the water from running down over the outside of the device when some of thewater is being removed from said device.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings,and particularly pointed out in-the appended claims, it being understood that changes in 'the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of the water-receptacle. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the moistening device for use in connection with the water-receptacle. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the water-receptacle. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the moistener applied to the device to receive moisture therefrom.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a receptacle 1, of glass or other suitable material, having a flat base, so as to form'a stable support therefor, the sides of the receptacle inclined or converged upwardly to a comparatively small top opening 2. Surrounding the opening 2 and rising from the edges thereof is a peripheral flange 3, which forms a cup to receive water from the receptacle, as will be hereinafter described. Within the receptacle and normally supported upon the bottom thereof is a loose inverted elastic cup 4, from the top or back of which rises an open-ended tubular stem 5, which communicates at its lower end with the interior ofthecup and has its upper end projected into the cup 3 and is provided with an outwardly-flared head 6, the greatest diameter of which is longer than that of the opening 2, so as to prevent the head from being forced through the opening and into the interior of the receptacle.

In connection with the water-containing receptacle there is provided a moistening device embodying a finger-piece? in the form of a split-spring tube, which constitutes a socket or seat for one of the fingers, preferably the index-finger. At the forward end of the tube or finger-piece 7 there is a cup or receptacle 8, which is setat an angle to the fin ger-piece and carries'an absorbent material 9as, for instance, a sponge.

In using the device the moistener is fitted to one of the fingersand. the absorbent portion thereof is inserted into the cup 3 and pressed against the upper end of the stem 5, so as to depress the same, whereby. the rubher or elastic cup 4 is compressed and water is forced upwardly through the tubular stem and into the cup 3, whereby the sponge is effectually moistened. When the moistener is removed, the elastic cup automatically resumes its original shape, thereby elevating the stem to its original position and permitting the Water in the cup 3 to return to the interior of the receptacle through the annular space between the edge of the opening 2 and the stem 5. It will here be observed that the water which is forced out of the receptacle is held within the cup 3 and is thereby prevented from running over the outside of the receptacle, and in addition thereto the collapsing of the elastic cup 4 is limited by reason of the head 6 striking the bottom of the cup 3, whereby it is impossible to so com- .press the elastic cup as to force the water above the top of the cup 3.

The interior of the tube 5 is of the same diameter throughout in order that the water may overflow through the upper open end of the tube and into the cup 3 to efiectuallysaturate the sponge, while the enlargement or flange 6 is slightly greater than opening 2, so as to close the same and prevent the water from returning to the interior of the receptacle 1 so long as the tube is depressed to its lowest limit.

What we claim is 1. A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle having an opening in the top thereof, an upstanding flange surrounding the opening and forming a cup, an inverted elastic cup within the receptacle and upon the bottom thereof, and an open-ended tubular stem rising from and in communication with the elastic cup with its upper end projected upwardly through the opening in the top of the receptacle, said opening being greater in diameter than the tubular stem to permit of waterin the cup running backinto the receptacle.

2. Adevice of the character described, comprising a receptacle having an opening in the top thereof, an upstanding peripheral flange rising from the opening and forming a cupin communication therewith, an inverted elastic cup within the receptacle and supported upon the bottom thereof, a tubular stem open at opposite ends and rising from the back of the elastic cup, the upper end of the stem being projected into the cup at the upper end of the receptacle and flared or enlarged to -a diameter greater than that of the opening in the top of the receptacle, said openingbeing greater in diameter than the tubular stem to permit of water in the cup running back into the receptacle.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a rigid receptacle having a central opening in the top thereof, an upstanding peripheral flange rising from the edge of the opening and forming a cup having an openingin its bottom to communicate with the interior of the receptacle, an inverted elastic cup within the receptacle with its lower edge supported upon the bottom thereof, a tubular stem piercing and rising from the back of the elastic cup with its internal diameter the same throughout and its upper end projected through the opening in the top of the receptacle and into the cup, said opening being greater in diameter than the external diam eter of the stem, and the upper end of the stem having an external peripheral flange which is greater than the opening through which the stem projects and is disposed to close said opening when the stem is depressed.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto aifixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. WEAVER. CASPER F. HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

J. J. HOFFMANN, THOS. C. MOJ/ENTEER. 

